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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
DeSantis aims to slice state budget by $4.6 billion. Here’s how he would do it.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing more than $4.6 billion in cuts from the state’s $119 billion budget while continuing to provide billions in popular tax cuts and putting more into the state’s rainy day fund. The slashing starts with more than $1 billion to healthcare services, largely because of federal Medicaid money that has gone away with the end of the pandemic state of emergency. And the cuts continue as other one-time funds dry up, usually projects backed by federal grant programs that have been discontinued. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Business community and advocates clash on child labor legislation; what’s best for the kids?
Within two weeks of the state’s 2024 legislative session, a clash has erupted between Florida’s powerful business community and 100 groups who are opposing rollbacks on child labor laws, with families, teens and education caught in between the skirmish. Just last week, lawmakers in the House pushed to allow 16- and 17-year olds to work more than 30 hours a week during the school year and allow for fewer mandatory work breaks. On Wednesday in the Senate, lawmakers had provided a bill with exemptions allowing minors as young as 16 to perform commercial and residential roofing work. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Is Florida a good place to start a business? This list ranks it high. Here's why
There’s a reason why communities rally to support local businesses. It’s because starting a business (and keeping it running) is really hard, even without high inflation rates and labor shortages. Under normal circumstances, almost half of the startups in the U.S. are not likely to make it five years. And one fifth of all startups close their doors after the first year of business, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reported by WalletHub. [Source: TC Palm]
Florida ports seek money amid competition
Florida Ports Council President & CEO Mike Rubin is urging lawmakers to strengthen investments in ports this year to fend off $200 million in port projects in Texas and efforts by Georgia to centralize auto imports. “We literally face a fork in the road decision,” Rubin said in a council newsletter posted Tuesday. “We either make significant investments to allow Florida to seize the growing global trade opportunity, or we allow it to pass us by for states like California, Georgia and others on the Eastern seaboard, including New York and New Jersey.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
Economist talks food insecurity, says feeding kids isn't cheap in Florida
A bill (SB 300) filed for the ongoing legislative session would make free school breakfast and lunch available to all public school students. This comes after Florida opted out of a new federal program designed to help parents pay for groceries over the summer. The state turned more than $250 million in assistance, which would have provided $120 worth of groceries to Florida parents helping some 2 million kids. [Source: WMFE]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› SpaceX delays launch of Axiom Space crew until at least Thursday
Axiom Space and SpaceX are set to kick off a busy year for human spaceflight, but SpaceX announced it was delaying its Space Coast launch attempt until at least Thursday. The commercial Ax-3 mission is now set to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the Crew Dragon Freedom making its third ever flight to space targeting liftoff at 4:49 p.m. Thursday.
› Southwest Florida environmental groups say economic damage from next major algae bloom will total billions
Three of Southwest Florida's most influential environmental groups, each with a laser focus on the region’s water quality, met Tuesday to share a report warning that the next massive red tide or blue-green algae outbreak will be a multi-billion-dollar disaster. “Our region's economic and ecological well-being hinges on the health of our water. Yet, while there’s almost universal agreement that our water fuels our economy, our water quality continues to decline,” said Rob Moher, president of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
› Consumer spending spurs Miami economy
For the past year, consumer spending has had more strength and momentum in South Florida’s economy, and that is expected to continue this year. Even though, the increases in interest rates last year certainly put a dent in some areas, consumer purchasing is going to continue to maintain growth.
› L3Harris wins $919 million military satellite contract for tracking enemy missiles
L3Harris Technologies has won a $919 million contract from the Space Development Agency to build satellites for an advanced missile-tracking program. The contract award follows up on two other contracts the Melbourne-based high-tech and defense company received for missile-tracking work.
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